Chapter 211
(Kyle Calendar Year 511: Age 18)
The Startling News
Translator : PolterGlast
On the final day of
the harvest festival, the town of Teigoon continued to bustle with lively
noise, reluctant to see the festival end. Everyone happily enjoyed food and
drink, intoxicated by the finale of the festival.
Among them, there was
one person resting in a room on the top floor of the lord's mansion with a
gloomy expression.
"What should I
do... I can't hide it anymore. I have to say it eventually, but I still don't
have the courage. I've already told Lady Chris and Lady Yuka. And all my fellow
companions. Everyone blessed me, but... for someone like me..."
Murmuring this, she
gazed blankly at the light-up display visible from the window and the bustle of
the lively town.
『Huh? Anne, you like alcohol, don't you? You don't have
to hold back. Once the harvest festival is over, we're planning to tour the new
towns in the domain together, so let's go together this time without
reservation! 』
Takuhir-sama had said
that to me. But I can't go with him.
Yes, it was after the supreme
tournament had ended. It started on the day we were summoned by Lady Chris and
went to her room.
※
When the four of us
went to Lady Chris's room, Lady Chris and Lady Yuka were there.
"Everyone, it's
been a while since we've all been together like this. After everything, having
gained Yoltia-san and Yuka-san as companions he can trust, that child is truly
fortunate. I thank you all once again.
And today, partly due
to a consultation from Yuka-san, I've asked you all to gather."
Prompted by Lady
Chris, Lady Yuka began to speak.
"As you all know,
there are less than two years left until the truce with the Empire expires.
Watching Takuhir-sama recently, I thought... it's clear that he is facing the
coming great war with extraordinary resolve. And this is the same for my
father. I believe you all, who are always by his side, feel the same."
It is certainly true.
Takuhir-sama is
sometimes unable to sleep properly at night due to the countermeasures and
responses he must prepare. Claire-san, Miseri-san, and Yoltia-san, who take
turns visiting his bedroom, have said the same thing.
But even when we talk
about it, Takuhir-sama always smiles and says:
『It's okay, I will definitely protect you, Anne, and
everyone else. You don't need to worry. If I can see Anne's smiling face, all
my fatigue will blow away. 』
Lady Yuka continued.
"The duty of us
who have married the head of a noble house is to bear the children of the one
we love and leave behind his bloodline. However... for me, who attends the
academy in the Royal Capital and is not yet formally married, that is not
possible.
Even if we marry
immediately after graduation, sending my husband off to the battlefield with a
child, and wishing for him to return alive for the sake of this child... there
won't be enough time.
I heard from my
father. That Takuhir-sama once disregarded the danger to his own life and
jumped into the midst of the enemy alone for the sake of his allies."
Yes, I know.
To save his comrade
Kran, Takuhir-sama shook off our attempts to stop him and rushed out. At that
time, without the reinforcements from the then-Viscount Goman, we would likely
have been struck down by enemy swords.
I will never let that
happen again. After the battle, clinging to Kran's corpse, embracing the
weeping Takuhir-sama, I swore that oath.
Takuhir-sama thinks of
his comrades first and always acts to protect them.
Even with the Klimt
armor. The fact that he prioritized requesting it for us clearly shows he isn't
thinking of himself.
"It might be hard
for Yuka-san to say, so I'll say it. Our duty is to leave behind descendants
for our husband who is heading to a place of death. I don't mean to say ominous
things. But facing a difficult war, protecting the house, and ensuring the
husband's bloodline does not die out... that is a role only we can
fulfill."
"Everyone,
please. Could you bear Takuhir-sama's child? As we discussed a long time ago, I
promise that your children will not be treated poorly as heirs."
"I ask this of
you as well. The situation is different now from when we spoke before.
You have all earned
titles as quasi-nobles through your numerous achievements. With the
recommendation of the kingdom, that child appointed you as part of his duties
as Demon Territory Count. And there is Yuka-san, who understands.
The children born will
all be guaranteed the status of noble children. Let me apologize again for
saying things before that made you feel strangely reserved."
After this exchange,
the four of us consulted.
Only Miseri-san cannot
bear a child in the current situation. If she did, the management of the
Teigoon domain would grind to a halt, and the economy would stop.
In the end, among the
other three, it was decided that I, the oldest and the one who had served him
first, should be the one. Since I am also the one serving by his side in the
Royal Capital until Takuhir-sama graduates...
At first, I was
hesitant to do it without Takuhir-sama's permission. But although it is a duty,
the days when I can monopolize my husband as a wife in the Royal Capital, away
from the domain, are coming to an end.
That impatience, and
everyone's words, swept me along.
Once this harvest
festival is over, I have to tell Takuhir-sama the truth. And I will no longer
be able to serve by his side as I have until now.
『So that my substitute can serve as Takuhir-sama's
guard at any time.』
Saying that, I've been
having Sigur and Karla prepare for a year now, so that shouldn't be a problem.
But I don't want to
give up the role I've been able to monopolize until now to anyone else. I want
to be the one serving by his side forever. I was tormented by such feelings.
I hate myself for
having such ugly thoughts. Leaving his side, being thought of as a cunning
woman, and even worse, being hated... that was what I feared most.
※
As I was agonizing
over this, there was a knock on the door.
"Anne, are you
okay? You went back early saying you felt unwell, so I got worried and came to
check on you."
Ah... It's no use. I
can't make this person worry unnecessarily.
"Takuhir-sama, I
have something to tell you."
Finally, I managed to
get the words out. I know my hands are trembling.
"Hmm? What's
wrong? Are you sick or something?"
"Ah, no, it's a
healthy sickness. So I'm fine."
What am I saying?
Takuhir-sama is also looking at me with a puzzled expression.
Steel myself, take a
deep breath, and then, I shouted it out.
"I'm sorry! I'm
pregnant with your child!"
※
Leaving Anne's room
with a strange mix of joy and bewilderment, I leaned against the wall of the
corridor, feeling emotions I didn't know how to express.
"Phew, a child
for me, huh..."
When I lived as
Nishida, and of course in my previous life here, I had no children. So this joy
is immense.
But there was
something catching in my heart.
"I've added
another tie to this world. Now, I'll be even less able to return..."
Those words slipped
out, and from an outsider's perspective, they probably sound ridiculous. With
four wives and one fiancée, five people in total, what's the point of talking
about ties now!
I think so too, but
somewhere in my heart, I think I had drawn a boundary line on my own. For just
a moment, receiving Anne's confession, I froze.
Seeing Anne looking at
me anxiously, with eyes that looked like she was about to cry, I showed her my
best smile and embraced her.
"Thank you, Anne.
I'm so happy. So you don't need to make such an anxious face. There's nothing
better than this."
I managed to say that.
Even so, I kept embracing Anne, who was crying and saying "I'm
sorry," and stroked her head.
Perhaps they, too, had
sensitively detected what was caught deep in my heart. I must have been hurting
Anne and my wives.
That thought made my
chest ache.
Whenever I was
suffering, whenever I was crying, whenever I lost sight of myself, Anne was
always by my side. She comforted me, and sometimes scolded me.
It's no exaggeration
to say that I am who I am now because Anne was there. I continued to rely on
Anne's kindness, and as a result, I was hurting her.
"I'm sorry,
Yuko... I will continue to search for a way to return. I will never forget. I
will definitely return someday. But I'm sorry, I want you to wait just a little
longer. I want you to give me a little more time to protect the irreplaceable people
who support me now."
Murmuring this, I
temporarily sealed away the hesitation deep in my heart. Even space-time magic
hasn't manifested in me yet. No matter how much I worry, I don't even have the
means right now.
Besides, I don't even
know yet if I myself will be able to survive past the autumn of my 20th year.
Of course, the next
morning, taking the hand of a blushing Anne, I reported the good news to
everyone as a joyous event for the House of the Demon Territory Count Solis.
Everyone was overjoyed and raised a grand toast.
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